The World’s 30 Most Innovative Corporate Human Resources Departments

As part of an effort to examine the best career options for individuals pursuing a degree in human resources, we turn our attention to the most innovative corporate human resources departments in the world. We present these by way of informing HR grads as to outstanding potential future employers, and as examples of the ways in which top HR departments exhibit leadership qualities.

Gone are the days when human resource departments’ exclusively focused on gathering employment applications and interviewing candidates. Today’s human resource department is the backbone of a successful organization, and these thirty are leading the pack.

From planning marketing strategies to recruit top-notch employees, to implementing incentive programs for hard-working staff, to diagnosing and treating organizational problems, today’s HR departments rely on innovation and creativity to keep the company on the cutting edge of competition. The most successful companies consider their HR teams to be partners in the business.

Here we take a closer look at these thirty companies and distinguishes their efforts in human resources.

Methodology

In order to create this piece, we examined information provided by 2013-2014 Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list and Glassdoor’s 2014-2015 winners of the Employees’ Choice Awards, since landing a spot on these lists would suggest leadership in treatment of staff and stakeholders, innovative HR practice, and positive work environment. In addition, details from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development were studied, specifically from their celebratory issue, to identify companies that revolutionized human resources over the past one hundred years.

We then researched and investigated each potential entry, comparing the following criteria, and selecting our top 30 from among more than 100 reviewed.

* A history of human resource innovation, generally or in a specific area of interest
* Award recognition for HR efforts and practice
* Community outreach programs for staff
* Emphasis on quality and diversity within the workplace
* Employee incentives, including onsite perks and rewards
* Global or commercial impact of HR practice on the wider organization
* Recruitment efforts and regular evaluations, emphasizing company transparency and employee engagement

The lists consulted were as follows:

* Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work – Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards 2015
http://www.glassdoor.com/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm
* Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work – Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards 2014
http://www.glassdoor.com/Best-Places-to-Work-2014-LST_KQ0,24.htm
* Fortune’s Best Companies – 100 Best Companies to Work For 2014
http://fortune.com/best-companies/
* Fortune’s Best Companies – 100 Best Companies to Work For 2013
http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2013/list/

30. FedEx Corporation

FedEx Corporation holds a track record of success, from delivery to customer service. In the early 1970s, the company developed a philosophy that still stands strong today – People-Service-Profit. The foundational belief is that excellent care of employees breeds excellent service. To track employee relations, FedEx offers an annual survey and feedback action program. Employees provide valuable feedback and management meets to discuss results. The program allows problem assessment and resolution opportunities. FedEx Corporation provides an efficient way to address problems in order to keep the community balanced.

29. AMX

Part of the HARMAN Professional Division, AMX, develops innovative technologies to help simplify the world. Their focus on world-class customer service is not taken lightly. Training is critical. Conscientious hiring practices and layoff procedures are implemented at AMX, making the company a leader in employee relations. Communication is taught among staff and accomplished by the implementation of an open-space work area for employees. Management and leadership teams practice open-door policies and welcome the voice of even entry-level trainees. As a proactive effort to maintain employee relations during layoffs, AMX offers transparent severance packages that are both generous and helpful in relocating those affected by the change.

28. Oxfam

While the private sector dominates the business world, frugal charities, such as Oxfam, dominate when it comes to management, leadership, and the development and training of people. According to the creativity and leadership department at the Manchester Business School, Oxfam sees people development as a critical component to staying afloat. The organization values the training of people as an important retention tool among a sector that typically struggles to compete on salaries with business. The Human Resource department at Oxfam regards the future of HR as the ability to build alliances. They train their people to regard the same beliefs, and as a result, are making an impact and difference in the HR arena.

27. Prudential

The people strategy at Prudential is straightforward – be a high-performance company and a superb place to work. According to key Prudential personnel and HR statistics, the company does not have high turnover, absence rates are low, and disciplinary procedure levels are implemented. The company attributes its human resource success to its transparency and ability to share its story. The company’s history is shared with its entire staff, discussing the highs and lows, challenges and successes, with every person. The company keeps an open mind in HR processes and welcomes change and innovation when needed. Their open mind is keeping them ahead of the rest.

26. Eastman Chemical Company

Earning a Glassdoor Employee’s Choice Award as One of the Best Places to Work in 2015, Eastman Chemical Company values the input and voice of its employees. The company is now entering their seventh year of operation and attributes their ongoing success with the value they have for their employees. The company believes that when their people love their work and enjoy working with one another, remarkable things happen. The award received by Eastman Chemical was based on their employee rate of satisfaction with the company, as well as critical workplace factors. These factors include compensation, benefits, advancement opportunity, work-life balance, career culture, and access to senior management.

25. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc

Wegmans started in 1916 with a sole fruit and veggie cart. Today the company supports eighty stores but remains under its original family management operation. Wegmans’ awards and accolades include two HR recognitions from Fortune as One of the Best Companies to Work For. In 2006, the company ranked number 2 and in 2013, the company ranked number 5. Wegmans received Glassdoor’s Employees Choice Award in 2014 for one of the Top 50 Large Companies to work for. What sets Wegmans apart in the HR sector is the emphasis it puts on taking care of both its employees and customers.

24. Alliance Boots GmbH

Built from the foundational belief of the Boots family, the company excels in employee engagement. How does the company maintain an employee-engaged philosophy that garners success? According to recognition given by the Sunday Times, Boots excels in staffing supportive managers, improving colleague relations, promoting a stress-free work environment, and promoting philanthropy through outreach activities. The company believes in vocational education for its entry-level employees, offering room to move upward over time. In 2001, Alliance Boots became the first company of its kind to offer formal accreditation for work within the community. A pattern that is now a mainstay in HR innovation.

23. Bain and Company

The work culture at Bain is that of hard-working people who love what they do. Bain is a magnet for top talent and employees who stay the course. Retention is low because, according to the company’s human resource department, people love what they do. Bain & Company’s HR recognition includes awards from Working Mother as the Best Company to Work For, the #1 Best Firm to Work For by Consulting magazine, and the Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality 2015 from Human Rights Campaign. The team culture allows all members to fully contribute ideas, support each other, and provide inspiration as a community. HR at Bain focuses on the complete-employee; combining training, mentoring, and flexibility among work schedules.

22. Eileen Fisher

Eileen Fisher is a popular clothing retailer focusing on the provision of high-end customer service. Employees are trained to supply the best customer service the industry has seen, which is why Eileen Fisher is consistently the recipient of awards and honors for human resource efforts. To reward its employees for their hard work and dedication, the company offers annual bonuses equaling up to four weeks of earnings. Financial remuneration is also given for personal education and health and wellness efforts. Eileen Fisher sets the standard for creating happy employees, and as a result, employee loyalty is at an all time high.

21. Quicken Loans

Quicken Loans’ workplace culture extends far behind the colorful offices and collaborative work environment they are known for. The company expresses an active appreciation for creative culture that is shown by leaders who encourage employees to innovate without a fear of failure. Even trainees are empowered to innovate and create on a regular basis. The company believes that when people are free to create they do remarkable things. Combining passion with creativity causes groundwork for success. Quicken Loans was named Fortune magazine’s Top 5 Best Places to Work in America in 2014 and consistently wins awards for customer satisfaction and employee retention.

20. Hay MSL

In the early 20th century, a good ol’ boys’ network was the means of advancement and success in moving up the corporate ladder. But a group of psychologists gathered together to change the way executive HR decisions were made. Experts from a management selection company, MSL, pioneered a systematic way of hiring the best and brightest. They implemented panel-based interviews, psychometric assessment, and proper advertising for job announcements. In 1963, another consultancy corporation joined forces with MSL, to implement what is now known as the leader in HR practice. Hay MSL, or Hay Group, is a global consulting agency that has worked hard to transform HR strategies with tremendous success. In 2013, Fortune named the company as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies for their contribution to the world of human resource.

19. Mayo Clinic

Consistently ranked as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Mayo Clinic has built a reputation as a place for employing the brightest minds to offer the most passionate service. The key to the company’s success is the team dynamic promoted by the human resource department at Mayo Clinic. According to HR personnel, there are 60,000 employees who link arms with one another to provide support and care for Mayo Clinic’s patients and families. How does Mayo Clinic provide such a team-focused dynamic in the workplace? Management credibility, internal communication, and extensive on-the-job training. Employees feel prepared to handle situations and receive recognition for their efforts.

18. Sainsbury’s

While it may not be the largest grocery store chain in the world, Sainsbury’s takes the lead in HR practices for its ability to innovate. No matter how tight the margin within the supermarket industry, Sainsbury’s has been a consistent performer. The reason for its ability to consistently turn a profit is due to its ability to innovate human resource practices. Its people strategy is the focus for success, which was made a leader in the grocer sect when it opened its first worker academy nearly a century ago. Today, Sainsbury’s training academies focuses on preparing its staff for the best standards of the day. It was also Sainsbury’s HR department that pioneered the self-service style of shopping. The innovation is seen in major supermarket chains across the globe.

17. Hilcorp Energy Co.

The Hilcorp Energy Company produces and distributes energy across the globe. Its company focus is a belief in mentorship, which translates to the company’s geographical success. The HR team takes a focused interest in new employees by offering mentorships to improve the rate of success. New team members are valued and well-trained for advancement. The HR team engages in a routine standard of paying its interns a lucrative wage. At the end of the internship, job offers are made. The consistent means of hiring interns and fitting them into full-time employment status adds value to the company and eliminates the price of training. Hilcorp also believes in paying it forward when it comes to employee charitable contributions. Each year the HR team matches up to $1,000 in charitable contributions made by its employees. This is a new and improved HR incentive pioneered by Hilcorp.

16. Brigham and Women’s Hospital

A teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School has been consistently ranked as one of the best places to work by Working Mother and Glassdoor. The key to Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s success rate is their human resource efforts to bring a work and life balance to the community. The company encourages employees to balance their work and personal life. HR focuses efforts on childcare for working mothers and fathers. Subsidized tuition is offered for employees who earn below a certain level. Back-up childcare services are also offered in the event of emergencies. The HR department focuses heavy attention on balancing work and families. Many of the employees sandwiched between childcare and eldercare for elderly parents are offered extensive services. Nursing home placement, home health services, and support groups are part of the innovative ways the HR team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital helps its employees eliminate stress.

15. Diageo

Diageo dates back to 1759. Any firm with a track record of business dating back this far must be doing something right. For a drinks company, it is miraculous. What sets Diageo apart from other companies is its level of HR integrity and innovation, even during times of change. When a CEO, who has worked with the company for decades, steps down, solid management practices build a stronger leadership team. Diageo has faced transformation and always come out on top. With a long heritage of systematic leadership building, Diageo remains one of the UK’s greatest companies.

14. BT

Resiliency is what adds BT to the list of the most innovative human resource departments. As a communications provider, it is hard to believe that this company remains a leader in human resource. But, BT is recognized as a pioneer in the way of managing an international network with a rich heritage of success. During the credit crunch, when most companies were laying off employees, BT was retaining, retraining, and redeploying existing staff. BT allows their staff to be retrained in different areas, gaining valuable experience, without being disloyal to the company. Apprenticeship programs offering flexible work schedules are available to employees who are looking for areas of movement and advancement within the company. The result? Excited employees with special interest in their career.

13. Cambridge Consultants

Free lunches and blue-sky projects might be new at Google and other tech-industry giants, but Cambridge Consultants has been doing it for thirty years. The consultancy firm was founded in 1960 and ever since its HR team has offered unconventional ways of retaining top talent. According to HR director, Alison Hughes, every innovation that’s en vogue in Silicon Valley is commonplace at Cambridge Consultants. The company offers staff a high degree of autonomy and control over their career trajectory. Project-led structure helps employees gain training and experience while staying relevant to the challenges at task.

12. Marks & Spencer

Known worldwide, Marks & Spencer is one of the best-loved retail brands, but they didn’t reach the top through marketing efforts. It was their HR strategies. Employee engagement puts Marks & Spencer at the top of the rung of the business success ladder. According to annual staff surveys, prioritized communication builds the backbone of the success model at Marks & Spencer. The company has a strong reputation in employee relations, winning awards and honors for how employees are treated up and down the supply chain. At Marks & Spencer there is no such thing as too much communication. From regular conference calls to management to daily huddles among staff. Communication is key to the success of Marks & Spencer.

11. USAA

San Antonio based financial services provider, USAA, is recognized for its retention efforts and success. Annual luncheons honor ten percent of the employees who have been with the company for over 25 years. The retention efforts include extensive training budgets, bonuses, and incentive-based pay increases. In 2013, USAA reported less than four percent turnover for its IT employees. Promotions soared at over 17 percent in 2013 and were higher in 2014. What draws perspective employees to USAA? Most campuses are dotted with health clinics, on-site Starbucks coffee shops and cafes, relaxation lounges, fitness centers, and childcare facilities. Regular social events create camaraderie among staff members and also promote the work-life balance the company strives to achieve.

10. Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce company is long synonymous with quality training and apprenticeships. Over 30 percent of the Rolls-Royce’s senior managers started at trainee-level with the company. The business model and value chain is incredibly innovative. Rolls-Royce showcases transformation and evolution. The company understands that in order to maintain their level of success, training is essential. Over 180 apprentices, with 80 percent aged sixteen to eighteen, are added each year across twelve UK sites. Most of the apprentices remain and work for the company for the life of their career.

9. Shell

The high profile human resource department at Shell plays a critical in forming and implementing strategy at the company by pioneering international management practices. While most overseas assignments fail, this is not the case with Shell. The company’s HR is able to manage overseas assignments by keeping tabs on their abroad employees. In 2010, the company implemented a costly yet successful model that employed 7,500 expats. Today they have close to 90,000 staff working in 90 different countries. The company wants their employees to experience working in global business. The company believes in having a strong, cohesive, and open culture that works together as a team no matter what country the team member is from. Having a global mindset is what sets Shell apart from its competitors.

8. Ford

Ford is the car manufacturer that broke ideals when it came to hiring practices and leadership. Henry Ford is recognized as one of the best leaders the world has ever seen. His philosophies and beliefs trickled into the HR department at Ford. Today the company is recognized for its HR innovation through a highly disciplined culture, outstanding training opportunities, and strong and consistent processes. When it comes to human resource practice, the company focuses on implementing healthy communication through the removal of emotion and reliance on data. HR believes data and discipline should come first, before emotion. When the process is adhered to, a healthy work environment succeeds. Ford has consistently been named a leader in HR practice by People Management.

7. Boston Consulting Group

The average hours of training per year at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for full-time salaried employees are 100. Hourly employees receive approximately 40 hours of training per year. Both training programs are considered rare for companies of this kind. BCG is ranked number 3 by Fortune as the Best Company of 2014 to work for, particularly because of their extensive training programs. It is the training that allows employees of BCG to succeed. Many newcomers graduate to leadership positions within a short duration of time because of the training received early on at the company. Mentorships and open-door communication policies with leadership allows for creative freedom and the confidence to share ideas.

6. LinkedIN

Business Insider ranked LinkedIn as one of the most desirable employers to work for and in 2014, Glassdoor recognized LinkedIn as #23 in their 50 Best Places to Work in 2015. What sets LinkedIn apart from its competitors are its HR innovation and team practice. The motto at LinkedIn is to work hard, play hard. The HR team hosts all-company parties, complete with live music and a nightclub atmosphere to reward staff members for their hard work and dedication to the company. The team dynamic is designed to encourage employees to create systems that break the status quo. Once a month, the company holds an InDay, which is when employees set aside regular work to explore new ideas. Employee turnover is less than eight percent and promotions consistently run over 17 percent.

5. Twitter

Consistently grabbing a spot on Glassdoor’s annual list of best places to work in the tech industry, Twitter was recently named second as the overall best company to work for employing over 1,000 employees. Twitter’s innovative HR department promotes a work-life balance, causing employees to admire the company culture. HR focuses a lot of time and attention to training managers to lead, while maintaining a culture of authenticity, transparency, and accessibility. Twitter is able to maintain the scrappy start-up feel while becoming a major tech firm because of the extensive training offered to those in leadership.

4. Nissan

Nissan is known for blending the most-recognized manufacturing techniques of the Japanese with British productivity. The result? A concept known as kaizen. Kaizen is a key philosophy of Nissan that empowers the workforce to continually improve the way the job is done. Nissan implements this philosophy when choosing each production worker. The teams recruited are the best of their kind and each member is geared toward improving their skills to shine above the rest. The HR practices at Nissan include transparent salary scales and full autonomy for leaders to recruit and build their own teams. It is a practice not seen in the automobile industry. But, at Nissan, it is the key to production and manufacturing success.

3. SAS

In 2014, SAS was ranked No. 2 on Fortune’s list of the Best Companies to Work For in the US. The HR practices at SAS are innovative and creative; contributing to the reason the company is consistently ranked as an industry leader. The company offers a university campus feel on its grounds, with greenways that connect buildings to buildings. Recreation and fitness facilities are found on campus, offering time for employees to take part in maintaining the health of the entire person – mind, body, and spirit. SAS is noted for offering a high-trust environment and exhibiting a low turnover rate. The HR department is recognized as a pioneer in addressing day-to-day stresses and concerns that are common in a workplace environment.

2. Cadbury

When it comes to people management, Cadbury leads the way. Not only is the company the world’s second largest confectioner, but it has also earned the HR accolade by putting its people first. Since founded in 1824, Cadbury has maintained its worker village and R&D factories. The village offers its staff and their families a comfortable environment to work and live. The company is built on an altruistic belief system that makes people a priority. The Cadbury culture combines positivity and balance, among work and life.

1. Google

From Fortune to Mashable to Glassdoor, Google is consistently ranked as the best company to work for in the world. What truly makes Google a great place to work is the people. The company is more than just an Internet juggernaut, its Mountain View, California headquarters offer a seven-acre sports complex, three wellness centers, indoor roller hockey rinks, horseshoe pits, and over 100,000 hours of subsidized massages doled out each year. Google’s philosophy is that with the right tools, you can attract the best talent, and develop happier and more productive employees. With these HR efforts, Google’s leadership is recognized worldwide.